THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE, 
51 
size is not a great defect, provided the form and texture are 
what they ought to be. In the spring of the year 1872, a corre- 
spondent sent us a head of Cattell’s Eclipse that weighed 
21 lbs. It was remarkably handsome ; a wonder to behold. It was 
carefully cut from as required, and made five dishes on five successive 
days, and, from first to last, as a table vegetable, was about as 
perfect as any broccoli ever eaten, and in every case the fifth part 
came to table as complete as an individual head. As to colour, it is 
impossible there should be two opinions. The whiter the head the 
better, and the texture should be fine, and firm, and close, not a gap 
anywhere, and the general outline hemispherical. The Purple Cape 
is invaluable for its earliness, and we cannot do without it ; but 
its colour is faulty, and we should be well oft’ if we had a white 
Cape to equal it ; but we have not, though Hammond’s AYhite 
Cape is good. 
Selection of Varieties. — The following are probably the 
best broccolis in cultivation for general purposes ; they are selected 
from a hundred sorts grown on our trial ground last year : — 
Baskett's Late, in use from March 27 to April 16. Brimstone, in 
use April 5 to April 20. Brown's Incomparahle Hardy, in use April 
2 to April 30. Garter's Champion, in use April 3 to May 18. Cat- 
tell's Eclipse, in use April 13 to May 20. Early White, in use 
April 6 to April 26. Grainger's White, in use Feb. 28 to March 28. 
Hammond's Improved, in use Sept. 4 to Dec. 1. Large Late White, 
in use April 6 to April 26. Lake's Fine Late, in use April 20 to 
May 18. Maher's Giant, in use March 10 to April 15. Benzance, 
in use Feb. 28 to April 2. Beading Giant, in use March 17 to 
April 10. Snoiv's Whiter White, in use April 2 to April 15. 
Sutton's Superb, in use Feb. 28 to April 12. Walcheren, in use 
Aug. 15 to Dec. 1. 
From the foregoing sixteen we will select six, and they shall be 
Walcheren, Grainger's, Sutton's Superb, Lake's Late, Carter's 
Champion, Cattell's Eclipse. The best cauliflowers are, Erogmore 
Forcing, Early London, and Lenormands. 
For special purposes the following deserve attention as distinct 
and good : Autumn Purple Gape, and Hammond's White Cape, ior 
planting close and insuring early supplies. Beck's Early Dwarf, 
Hammond's White Cape, and Miller's Dwarf, for frame culture. 
Carter's Champion, Cattell's Eclipse, Dilcock' s Bride, Hammond's 
Lmproved, Hampton Early White, Late Goschen, Maher's Giant, 
Malta, Beading Giant, Sutton's Superb, and Wandlass Wonderful are 
frequently remarked upon in our note-books as beautiful in form 
and colour, and usually attaining to a considerable size. We have 
dismissed Dancer's Pink Cape as “ not wanted,” but, as it makes 
extremely pretty heads, it maybe turned to account for exhibition. 
S. H. 
Large Date Palm. — The Revue Sortieole mentions that a Date Palm, whicli 
recently died in the establishment of M. Huber and Go., of Hyeres, France, has 
been cut down, and that its trunk measured 14 metres from the ground to the head, 
3.70 in girth at the base, 1.95 in the middle of the trunk, and 1.50 at the summit. 
Tlie tree was sixty-five years old, and one of the largest in France. 
February, 
